Thursday, September 25, 2014

The Spirit of Hope

“May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”  Romans 15:13

People who struggle in life need hope. Without it all desire fades and despair sets in to destroy. Hope instills new energy inspires trust in God’s deliverance and encourages us to make it through another day. 

Such hope is not the result of positive thinking. It comes as a transaction of the Holy Spirit in the life of the believer. It pushes back the clouds of gloom and pessimism, bringing the light of God’s promised deliverance and restoration. Hope serves as an anchor in the storm, tethering believers to the Lord’s love and mercy.


--“Draw Close to the Fire” by Terry Wardle, p 62


Confession and Spiritual Healing
James 5:16 (AMP) Confess to one another therefore your faults (your slips, your false steps, your offenses, your sins) and pray [also] for one another, that you may be healed and restored [to a spiritual tone of mind and heart]. The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working].
What is it that makes it so difficult for us to confess our sin? Our pride!
Proverbs 28:13 (NIV) He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy.
1 Peter 5:5b-6 (NIV) All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble." 6 Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.
James 4:6b-10 (NLT) “God opposes the proud but favors the humble.” 7 So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 8 Come close to God, and God will come close to you. Wash your hands, you sinners; purify your hearts, for your loyalty is divided between God and the world. 9 Let there be tears for what you have done. Let there be sorrow and deep grief. Let there be sadness instead of laughter, and gloom instead of joy. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up in honor.
1 John 1:5-9 (NLT)  This is the message we heard from Jesus and now declare to you: God is light, and there is no darkness in him at all. 6 So we are lying if we say we have fellowship with God but go on living in spiritual darkness; we are not practicing the truth.7 But if we are living in the light, as God is in the light, then we have fellowship with each other, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, cleanses us from all sin.8 If we claim we have no sin, we are only fooling ourselves and not living in the truth.9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
2 Chronicles 7:14 (NKJV) if My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.
Psalm 32:1-6 (NLT) Oh, what joy for those whose disobedience is forgiven, whose sin is put out of sight! 2 Yes, what joy for those whose record the LORD has cleared of guilt, whose lives are lived in complete honesty! 3 When I refused to confess my sin, my body wasted away, and I groaned all day long.4 Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me. My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.  5 Finally, I confessed all my sins to you and stopped trying to hide my guilt. I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the LORD.” And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone. 6 Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time, that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.

Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Corrie Ten Boom -- Story on Forgiving
It was in a church in Munich that I saw him—a balding, heavyset man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken, moving along the rows of wooden chairs to the door at the rear. It was 1947 and I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives.
It was the truth they needed most to hear in that bitter, bombed-out land, and I gave them my favorite mental picture. Maybe because the sea is never far from a Hollander’s mind, I liked to think that that’s where forgiven sins were thrown. “When we confess our sins,” I said, “God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever. …”
The solemn faces stared back at me, not quite daring to believe. There were never questions after a talk in Germany in 1947. People stood up in silence, in silence collected their wraps, in silence left the room.
And that’s when I saw him, working his way forward against the others. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights; the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor; the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister’s frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were!
[Betsie and I had been arrested for concealing Jews in our home during the Nazi occupation of Holland; this man had been a guard at Ravensbruck concentration camp where we were sent.]
Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: “A fine message, Fräulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!”
And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course—how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women? But I remembered him and the leather crop swinging from his belt. I was face-to-face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.
“You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk,” he was saying, “I was a guard there.” No, he did not remember me. “But since that time,” he went on, “I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fräulein,” again the hand came out—“will you forgive me?”
And I stood there—I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven—and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place—could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking? It could not have been many seconds that he stood there—hand held out—but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.
For I had to do it—I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. “If you do not forgive men their trespasses,” Jesus says, “neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses.”
I knew it not only as a commandment of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. It was as simple and as horrible as that.
And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion—I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. “… Help!” I prayed silently. “I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling.”
And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.
“I forgive you, brother!” I cried. “With all my heart!” For a long moment we grasped each other’s hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God’s love so intensely, as I did then
(excerpted from “I’m Still Learning to Forgive” by Corrie ten Boom. Reprinted by permission from Guideposts Magazine. Copyright © 1972 by Guideposts Associates, Inc., Carmel, New York 10512>)

Example of Jesus: Luke 23:34 (NKJV) Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots.

Example of Paul: 2 Timothy 4:9-17 (ESV)  Do your best to come to me soon. 10 For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia.11 Luke alone is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.12 Tychicus I have sent to Ephesus. 13 When you come, bring the cloak that I left with Carpus at Troas, also the books, and above all the parchments. 14 Alexander the coppersmith did me great harm; the Lord will repay him according to his deeds. 15 Beware of him yourself, for he strongly opposed our message. 16 At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them! 17 But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was rescued from the lion's mouth.


Example of Stephen: Act 7:59-60 (ESV) And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit."60 And falling to his knees he cried out with a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." And when he had said this, he fell asleep.

Tuesday, September 23, 2014

A STRONG TOWER
Proverbs 18: 10 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; The righteous run to it and are safe.
The name of the Lord may be taken for the Lord himself; he is a strong tower, a refuge, and place of complete safety, to all that trust in him. What a strong fortress is to the besieged, the like is God to his persecuted, tempted, afflicted followers. -- The Adam Clarke Commentary
Psalm 18:2 (AMP) The Lord is my Rock, my Fortress, and my Deliverer; my God, my keen and firm Strength in Whom I will trust and take refuge, my Shield, and the Horn of my salvation, my High Tower.
I think of the times in my walk with God, when I have been attacked and discouraged, of times when I wondered if I would survive the pain of the trial. With tears I would cry out to the Lord, desperate for the courage to get through the day. The shepherd of my soul was always faithful to meet me where I was and to assure me of his presence. In the darkness of the moment I would find a peace that was greater that my pain. In the stillness of His presence I would find hope that would lift me above my despair.
Psalm 91:4 (NLT) 9 If you make the LORD your refuge, if you make the Most High your shelter,10 no evil will conquer you; no plague will come near your home.
2 Samuel 22:1-3 (NKJV) 1 Then David spoke to the Lord the words of this song, on the day when the Lord had delivered him from the hand of all his enemies, and from the hand of Saul. 2 And he said: The Lord is my rock and my fortress and my deliverer; 3 The God of my strength, in whom I will trust; My shield and the horn of my salvation, My stronghold and my refuge; My Savior, You save me from violence.
Psalm 61:1-4 (NLT) O God, listen to my cry! Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety, 3 for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me. 4 Let me live forever in your sanctuary, safe beneath the shelter of your wings!
These and other verses have given me hope that enabled me to continue to walk forward in an incredible healing journey. God has been my strong tower providing rest when I was weary, safe haven from my attackers, and enrichment when depleted. Oh how I love Him my precious Lord and savior!

Wednesday, September 17, 2014

Laughter & Good Health
Proverbs 17:22 (NIV) A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.
AMP: A happy heart is good medicine and a cheerful mind works healing, but a broken spirit dries up the bones.
* Laughter Therapy: What Happens When We Laugh?
We change physiologically when we laugh. We stretch muscles throughout our face and body, our pulse and blood pressure go up, and we breathe faster, sending more oxygen to our tissues.
One pioneer in laughter research, William Fry, claimed it took ten minutes on a rowing machine for his heart rate to reach the level it would after just one minute of hearty laughter.
Maciej Buchowski, a researcher from Vanderbilt University, conducted a small study in which he measured the amount of calories expended in laughing. It turned out that 10-15 minutes of laughter burned 50 calories.
* Laughter's Effects on the Body
In the last few decades, researchers have studied laughter's effects on the body and turned up some potentially interesting information on how it affects us:
Blood flow. Researchers at the University of Maryland studied the effects on blood vessels when people were shown either comedies or dramas. After the screening, the blood vessels of the group who watched the comedy behaved normally – expanding and contracting easily. But the blood vessels in people who watched the drama tended to tense up, restricting blood flow.
Immune response. Increased stress is associated with decreased immune system response, says Provine. Some studies have shown that the ability to use humor may raise the level of infection-fighting antibodies in the body and boost the levels of immune cells, as well.
Blood sugar levels. One study of 19 people with diabetes looked at the effects of laughter on blood sugar levels. After eating, the group attended a tedious lecture. On the next day, the group ate the same meal and then watched a comedy. After the comedy, the group had lower blood sugar levels than they did after the lecture.
Relaxation and sleep. The focus on the benefits of laughter really began with Norman Cousin's memoir, Anatomy of an Illness. Cousins, who was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis, a painful spine condition, found that a diet of comedies, like Marx Brothers films and episodes of Candid Camera, helped him feel better. He said that ten minutes of laughter allowed him two hours of pain-free sleep.
Laughter can be therapeutic.  Many cancer patients try humor therapy as part of their treatment, and are able to better cope with cancer and cancer treatment because of the jolt of laughter they add to their lives. Children who laugh during painful medical procedures may be able to tolerate pain better. And they don't even have to laugh out loud to feel the soothing benefits.
Here are some tips to help you put more laughter in your life:
• Figure out what makes you laugh and do it (or read it or watch it) more often.
• Surround yourself with funny people -- be with them every chance you get.
• Develop your own sense of humor. Maybe even take a class to learn how to be a better comic -- or at least a better joke-teller at that next party. Be funny every chance you get -- as long as it's not at someone else's expense!
*Source: WebMD

Thursday, September 11, 2014

Dealing With Burnout (Part 2 of 2)
By George Stahnke

In Part 1 of this article we talked about the reality of “burnout” – its prevalence among ministers, its symptoms, and some of its more harmful practical effects.  We discussed how this psychological phenomenon impacts pastors in the office, in the pulpit, and at home with spouse and kids.  I closed with a promise to give you some specific advice for avoiding “burnout.”  Here are some of the syndrome’s most common symptoms and a few suggestions for dealing with them.

Lack of rest:  To avoid burnout you have to be spiritually, mentally, physically, and relationally healthy. This isn’t easy to achieve, of course—sometimes the ministry can be so consuming that rest seems impossible. That’s why Jesus’ words to His disciples are so important: “Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while. For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat.” (Mark 6:11)

If you don’t intentionally schedule rest, it will not happen. Here is the rule that I try to live by: Whatever is on the calendar first wins. I don’t change the calendar unless it is an emergency by my definition. I recommend that you sit down with your spouse and schedule time for recreation, study, a day off, and your vacation. Then, when you get a request to do this or that, you can honestly say, “I am sorry but I have an appointment.” It’s important to maintain this boundary and protect your time off.

“It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone. Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves?”  (Psalms 127:2 TMNT)

The empty tank: Feeling down and depleted?  Then cultivate some interests that are not directly related to your ministry. What is it that fills your emotional tank? Sports, gardening, fishing, woodworking, reading, hiking, camping, golf, or music are just a few activities that offer healthy and refreshing distractions from the work of the pastorate. Personally, I do a lot of camping with my wife.

Unrealistic expectations: Being a pastor was never intended to be a one-man show. You must adjust your expectations so that your activities in ministry align with your natural talent and spiritual gifting. Begin by realizing that there are times when you must simply say no to the expectations of others who want you to function outside your boundaries. Then help those you minister with to discover their gifts and give them room for expression and growth. In other words, learn to delegate. You’d be surprised what a difference it can make (See Romans 12:3-8, 1 Corinthians 12).

Negativity: Let’s face it ministry can turn you sour. We face disappointment in others and ourselves. In Proverbs 4:23 we are instructed to “guard our hearts.” One practical way of doing this is to develop a sense of humor. Laughter is an antidote to cynicism and sarcasm. It lowers blood pressure and reduces certain stress hormones such as cortisol and adrenaline. It is simply “good medicine” (see Proverbs 15:13, 15, 17:22).

One of my life passages is Philippians 4:4-7. Mediating and practicing these verses keeps my heart in check and my negativity at bay.

Isolation: Isolationism happens when we become self-focused on our preferences, our needs, our desires, our goals, our ministry, etc. This is a common theme in ministry that too often leads to loneliness, discouragement, and burnout. It is a tool of the enemy that in the end can lead to utter ruin. In the book of Ecclesiastes 4:9 -10 we read, “Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up!”  The old adage is so true:  “No man is an island.” We are simply better together than we can be separately! So be intentional about developing peer relationships that include authentic accountability.

Pride: As ministers of God’s grace we must never become so confident in ourselves and what we have achieved that we cease to remember that it is “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit, says the LORD of hosts” (Zechariah 4:6). Our faith and our calling do not rest in the wisdom of man but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5, Ephesians 1:1).

Remember that you “are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them (Ephesians 2:10).”

I love Paul’s statement of humility. “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” I Corinthians 15:10; compare Romans 12:3). That’s exactly the perspective we need if we’re going to win the battle against burnout.

Take an honest look at yourself. As ministers we understand that our lives are often filled with wounds, disappointment, financial hardship, and fears that have the capacity to affect us negatively.  Burnout can cloud the reality of our calling and minimize the redemptive story of our lives. I have seen too many pastors slip into self-doubt and fall into old habits, thus compromising themselves and others (see James 1:26; 2 Corinthians 13:5, Psalm 39:1,
Deuteronomy 4:9).

It is imperative to understand that God cares more about who we are in Him than what we do for Him. Personal integrity in all areas of our life is more important than charisma and gifting. That’s why Paul exhorts Timothy to watch his life and doctrine so closely

(1Timothy 4:12). In another passage, the same apostle urges all of us to examine our lives and “walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called (Ephesians 4:1; compare 1 Corinthians 9:27).

Recognize when you need help and get it. It’s humbling to admit that you of all people might need help – right? It was humbling for me too!  But that’s no reason to hold back from seeking the assistance you need. As a matter of fact, Focus on the Family’s chaplains and counselors would love to come alongside you if you think it might be worthwhile to discuss your situation with a trained professional.  You can reach them weekdays from 6:00 A.M. to 8:00 P.M. (MT) at 1-855-771-HELP (4537).  Remember that the call is free to you and absolutely confidential!